Furnace grate and operating mechanism therefor



C. LOSCH Jan. 5, 1932.

FURNACE GRATE AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Feb. 4, 1929' 4 Shets-Sheet l b\ \N\ WN Jan. 5, 1932. l C, LOSCH 1,840,1 17

FURNACE GRATE AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Jan. s, 1932. Q LOSCH 1,840,117

FURNACE GRATE AND OPERATING MECHANISM THltR-EFOR Filed Feb. 4, 1929 4 sheets-Sheet s Jan. 5, 1932. OSCH 1,840,117

FURNACE GRATE AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Feb. 4, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN//ZWTOK Patented Jan. 5, 1932 CYRENIUS LOS'GH,'OF SCHLUYLKI'LL HAVEN, PENNSYLVANIA FURNACE GRATE AND Lont:nieuwe MEGHANISM '.rHnRnroR y Application mea February 4,v 1925.( serial No. 337,211.`

My invention relates to new and useful improvementsin a furnace grate and operating mechanism therefor, which is particularly adapted for use in connection with heating furnaces, although not so limited, whereby a lire will be automatically maintained with little-or no attention.y

Another objectof the invention is to provide a combination'of elements whereby coal l will be fed tothe grate as needed, then caused to intermittently move along the grate due to the oscillations of the latter, where it will be burned, and finally the productsV of combustion will pass from the grate for disposal.

"V The grate` is water cooled and provision is y made for a forced draft. n

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a furnace grate and operating mecha,-y

nism which is simple 'in construction, inexpensive in the cost of manufacture, reliable inaction and requires but little attention during operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character'which is very economicalin the use of fuel, and whichper-` mits the successful use of the finer sizes and cheaper grades of fuel.

A further object of Vthe invention is to pro? vide uniquefmeans for mounting the grate whereby it may be oscillated. l

A still further object of my invention is the provision of simple and Veffective'mechanism for intermittently oscillating the lgrate. While I have designated this'structure as a furn-ace'grate, I desire it understood that it is applicable to some` types of boilers.

rIhe invention lwill be besty understood from a consideration of the following de# tailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the embodiment illustrated, though practical, is by no means Vthe only f embodiment which the invention may assume,

wherefore the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing the dra-wings, but may be changedand modified in various particulars, *so` longk as Vsuch changes andvmodifications mark no material departure from thefsalient features of thefinvention. f i v .With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set .55 forth and then specifically designated by the claimsi i" V. In ordery that those skilled in the art to which this invention' appertains may underff n stand how to'use and makethe same, I will de#i V6u scribe its construction in detail, referring vby numerals to t-he accompanying drawings,

forming a ypart ofthis application, in which.:-

: F ig. lis a'plan view of alfurnace grate and $5 1 operating mechanism constructed in accordi ance with my invention, the furnace walls being shown in section along a line V1 1 of: Fig'Q.- f l Fig. 2 isa section on the line 242 of Fig. l, 70 withthe operating mechanism in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. v2.

n Fig. 4 is a section on the'linet-t of Fig. 1.

F ig.-5 lis an enlarged fragmentary `side elevation of the furnace in the region of one of 7.5. the grate mountings.

' Fig. 6 is a similar view with the springs and shoes removed. Y

Figu? is aview similar to Fig. 6, but kkwith thefclosure sheetpand its lholding means removed. j 1 y Fig. 8k is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view of the grate to illustrate the construction of the water and airpassageways, the latter forming air nozzles. Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation ofthe Y ycam.

f Fig. 10' is an edgeview thereof looking toward the bottom of Fig. 9. j Fig. 11 is an enlarged side elevation of the pivoted, n swinging link Aand connecting rod, a portion of the `link being broken away Vand shown insection to illustrate a detail of con-l struction. i

Fig. 12 is an enlarged top plan orfedgey view of the ratchet mechanism, the arms ofthe pawl controls being broken away and sec@ tioned to show the formation of a hole, where: by an operating means may be connected with said controls.

. by sto Fig. 13 is a side elevation or face view thereof with a connecting rod attached to the rocker arm.

Fig. 14 is a rear edge view of the same or looking toward the right hand edge of Fig. 13.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, 15 represents the grate which is of general rectangular shape and includes the bottom 16 consisting of parallel spaced inner and outer walls 17 and 18 respectively, sides 19 and a front 20, said sides also consisting of inner walls 21 and outer walls 22 while the front consists of an inner wall 23 and an outer wall 24, all considered together forming a hollow grate, the interior of which acts as a water compartment 25.

In the outer walls of the sides adjacent the bottom as well as adjacent the upper end of the grate front are formed suitable openings to receive pipes 26, 27, 28 and 29. The pipe 26 acts as an inlet and may be connected bv means of a exible conduit 30, such as a rubber hose, with a source of water supply while the pipe 27 which acts as an outlet is connected by a flexible conduit 31, such as a rubber hose, with a point of disposal, such as a sewer or a hot water reservoir or the water tubes of a boiler.

The pipes 26 and 27 in connection with the other pipes 28 and 29, the latter being closed pers 32, such as plugs, act as mountmgs or the grate and pass through apertures 33 in the side walls of the furnace 34, said apertures being of sulieient size to permit movement of theV pipes which act as trunnions.

l As plainly shown in Fig. 2, the grate is inclined upwardly from the rear toward the forward end so that as the water becomes heated, it will readily circulate toward the outlet and as will be obvious from the succeeding description, the fuel, the fire bed, and the ashes will be readily moved toward the rear end of the grate.

The pipes 26 to 29 inclusive each rests between a pair of shoes 35, 36 held in place by springs 37 and 38, the outer ends of which engage brackets 39, 40 mounted on the side of the furnace so that in fact, the lower springs actually support the grate and any fuel thereon and will flex sufliciently to permit of the oscillation of the grate with little or no noise.

The apertures through which the several pipes or trunnions pass are closed by closure sheets 41 which may be of asbestos held in place by suitable holding means 42 which,

or convenience of illustration, are shown as rings forced upon the pipes.

Within the water compartment of the bottom of the grate are located a plurality of suitably spaced columns 43 which extend from a point adjacent to the rear of the grate to another point short of the front of the grate as shown in Fig. 1 and said columns can be cast with the grate and are hollow so as to form air passageways 44 therethrough from the under side or outside of the outer wall of the grate bottom to the inside or upper face of the inner wall of said grate bottom and the openings through the bottom or outer wall are the same diameters as the bores through the column, but the openings through the inner or top wall are preferably reduced in size and are preferably of conical shape so as to form the air nozzles 45.

The lower ends of the air passageways 44 communicate with an air distributing chamber 46 located on thc bottom or underside of the grate and while this chamber may be produced in any well known or desired fashion I preferably secure a flange-like frame 47 to the bottom wall of the grate, which frame is of sufficient size to surround or enclose all of the air passageways and the lower open portion of the frame is then closed by a plat-e 48 which is provided with a depression 49 at its rear end and preferably transversely thereof. It is desirable that said depression, which is like a gutter or channel, run all the way across the air distributing chamber so that as the air enters, it will be guided to all parts of the chamber and practically equalize the air pressure. The depression has an inlet 50 leading thereto preferably at one side, which inlet is defined by a short length of pipe 51 projecting through an opening similar to the ones above described and designated by the numeral 33 and also closed in a similar manner.

Air is preferably forced to 'and caused to enter the distributing chamber by means of a fan or blower 52, the outlet of which may be connected by a flexible conduit 53 with the pipe 51 and for convenience of illustration, said fan or blower is shown as being operated from a source of power 54, such as an electric motor through the medium of a belt 55 and coacting pulleys. To some suitable support, preferably the front wall of the furnace, is secured a bracket 56 and on this are mounted two pedestals 57 and 58 which are provided with bearings 59 and 60 respectively to journal the operating Shaft 61. This operating shaft carries a ratchet wheel 62 and a. jump cam 63, both of which are secured to said shaft so as to partake of the same rotative movement.

In order to transmit motion to the operating shaft 61, I have shown what, for convenience, I term a power shaft 64 journalled in suitable pedestals 65 and receiving motion from the motor 54 through a belt 66 and cooperating pulleys. On the power shaft 64 is an eccentric 67, or its equivalent, to which is pivoted one end of a rod 68, the opposite end of said rod being pivoted to a rock-arm 69 which is journalled upon the operating shaft E615-so1 as to:4 swing ,freelyy vthereabout through a certain arcduef to the motion trans;-

mittedafromthefeccentric;

It is preferable that the rod', 68' bel-connected with .theflower end ofthe rock-arm 69 while to the upper end is pivoted a pawl adapted to engage and drive the ratchet wheel 62 in Vone direction equal to the full swing of f the rock-arm, or any portion thereof, as will be` hereinafter more fully explained. y

Any movement thus imparted to the ratchet wheel 62 will rotate the operating shaft 6l and advance the rotation of the jump cam1 63 a similar. amount or distance. The jump cam 63 coacts Withthe free end of 'a Swinging link 71 which is pivoted at its upper end ception of the adjustable pull bolt 75, one'A end of which isrconnected with the grate while on the end passing through the swinging link are threaded suitable nut-s 76 and 77, the latter preferably having a convex por.- tion to set in the cavity 78 in the edge ofthe swinging link at the smaller lend of the hole Push rods 79 are also fastened to the grate and pass through the fronty wallof the furnace or heating device land project through the upstanding wall 80 of the bracket 56 and about said rods are coiled impulsesprings 81, one end of each engaging the inner sur-` face of the upstanding wall 8O and the other end engaging means 82 adjustable on each rod, such means here shownk as Washersy and nuts, the latter having threaded engagementwith the rods. Also coiled about said rkrods on the opposite side of the upstanding wall 80 are cushion springs 83one end of each engaging the outer surface of the upstanding wall 80, while the other end engages a cushion plate 84 throughwhich the push rods pass and said plate is held in certain adjusted i positions relative to the upstanding wall 80 by means of bolts 85 passingthrough the cushion plate. and having` threaded engagement with the upstandingwall 80 of thek bracket 56. Y Y Y y i On the outer ends of the push rods which projectV through the cushion plate are mounted stops 86 preferably of rubber, so asl to serve as silencers and these stops are ad? justable lengthwise of the push rods by means of suitable nuts 87.

The operating shaft 61 being advanced or rotated through the medium of the ratchet Wheel 62 as hereinbefore mentioned, the cam 63 engaging Vthe swinging link 7l will pull the grate forward by small `increments through the medium of the pull bolt 75 and this action moves the push rods 79 outward since they are vattached to the' grate, thereby compressing or increasing the compression of the impulse springs 81.

I say `that theicompression is vincreased because: I prefer that both impulse andcushion: springs be under pression at' all `times. v l :As soonas thefhigh pointl ofthe cam 63 registers with the notch 7 3`in the. swinging link71', the;- grate is free to .move in the opposite direction and since the impulse springs Slga-re under compression, they willV immediately act to force vthe grate rearward ythrough the medium of the push rods 79.

This ,mo-vement is very quick, but willy be Vsuddenly arrestedV whenthestop 86 engage the -cushionxplate 84, but the shock due to the Contact of the stops with the cushion platewil-l be absorbed by the cushion .springs 83. rl-he quick horizontal rearward movement of the` grate and this sudden arrest causes the kfuel and ashes thereon to shift -or move towardthe lower rear end ofy thel gratel wherea small portion of the ashes are discharged during each movement ofthe grate intoya receptacleor other device for proper disposal thereof vas desired. The means for disposing of the ashes not beingxa part of the invention have .not beenv illustrated, but

.for a thorough yunderS,tanding of the inven.

tion, it might be wellto state that an elevator or conveyer could be so disposed that the-rear ofthe grate has to receive the ashes and conf Vey them to. a pointvof disposal: e vThe frequency oftheV grate movements are taken care ofby the ratchet wheel arrangement above referred to, particularlyin connectionwith apair of rings 88 and 89, the

rings ofsaid pair being disposed on opposite sides ofthe ratchet Wheel, preferably on hubs 9() formedwith ythe ratchetr wheel. -These rings yeach have a portion of itslperiphery raised as indicated at 91 so that when oc'- cupying a certain position, they will engage ear 92 0n the `pawl at opposite sides of its 'nose 193 and hold the nose, of said pawl from ies engagement withthe ratchet wheel 62 during a portion of the advancing movement of said pawl. In other'words, the pawl can be held outL of Vengagement 'with the ratchet during any desired portion of the movement of said pawl?. For instance, said pawl may engage the ratchet wheel aftery said pawlhas moved one-sixth oits compl-'ete travel or'the rings 88 and89 may be so adjusted by moving them' clockwise' 'that the pawl will not engage the ratchet wheel until after it hasl moved three fourths of its traveling distance. In one case, the ratchet wheel might be moved a distanceequal tofour teeth and in the other case, it might be moved a` distance equal to one tooth. The rings 88 and 89v are each provided with an arm'94 which are fastened together by suitable fastening devices 95 and the ends of these arms are formed coincidi-ngf notches, which; when the armsy are brought together produce a hole 96 for the columns being located aconsiderable distance reception of any suitable actuatingfmember from the hollow end wall.

or element so that the rings may be moved either manually or thermostatically, to either decrease or increase the'time of actual engagement of the pawl with the ratchet wheel, thus securing a wide range of idle movement and active engagement for varying the movement of the cam 63 and consequently the number of impulses imparted to the grate in a, specified time for the purpose of shifting the fuel, fire bed and ashes for the purposes stated. y

In order to provide a continuous supply of fuel to the grate, a suitable hopper 97 may be mounted at any convenient location with a chute 98 terminating just above the upper forward end of the grate bottom, and in addition to the lower end of said chute being open, a portion of the rear wall may also have an opening 99 across which is disposed a sliding'gate 100 mounted in guide ways 101 and by adjusting the height of the lower edge of said gate above the grate, thus regulating the eective size of the opening 99, the depth of the fuel bed can be varied.

While I have shown and described a pair of impulse springs, cushion springs, and push rods, I desire it understood that one or more of these parts can be employed to accomplish the desired results.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the advantages of the invention in practical use will be appreciated, and they need not therefore be referred to in more detail.

A mechanism for a furnace or boiler constructed in accordance with the invention cannot only be built cheaply and operated economically, but requires very little attention and for reasons which have been eX- plained in full, a wide range of regulation is possible.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown, as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. A furnace grate for installation in an inclined position with the forward end above the rear end, said grate including a hollow bottom, hollow sidewalls and hollow forward end wall the interiors of which are in com munication with each other, a water inlet leading to the rear end of the grate bottom, a water outlet leading from the upper part of the forward end wall and the bottom having air passageways therethrough.

2. In a device of the kind described, a hollow grate channel shaped in cross section and having one hollow end Wall and a plurality of hollow columns within the bottom of the channel to provide air passageways and said In testimony whereof, I have hereunto af- CYRENIUS LOSCH. 

